(airplane engine roars)
head to my guns and pulled up,
started to make my egress
when I was hit.
Two big shells, 35-millimeter shells.
Fortunately it hit somewhere down towards the back
but it pushed the aircraft sideways.
I think it pushed it that way
so the front went the other way
such that I banged my head against the cockpit
and actually cracked my visor.
And then very quickly
the aircraft started falling apart around me.
We got a full house on the warning systems.
I could smell smoke and fire straightaway,
couldn't see anything.
But the control column was no longer working,
it wasn't connected to anything
and I knew I was gonna jump out.
It was just I'd rather get a little further away
from a bunch of troops
that have just dropped cluster bombs
on or near, so 'cause I thought
they might not be best pleased to see me.
